Defying Gravity (D.G.) Cafe, located on San Anselmo Avenue, shows a love for their community with locally sourced ingredients and cleverly named menu items.  The family-owned cafe opened in 2020, serving coffee, salad, and sandwiches. Hours of operation are  7 a.m. to 3 p.m,  Thursday through Saturday. 

A cheery room greets customers with a pleasing black and white colour scheme. A grand window opens to San Anselmo Avenue, providing plenty of natural light. The upbeat music playing at a medium volume perfectly compliments the charming atmosphere of the room.

 Located front and center, a cold case offers an assortment of snacks and beverages.

Mounted on the wall behind the counter, the menu is well organized and easy to read. Customers will feel right at home with sandwiches named after local destinations, as well as a build-your-own option.

I really appreciate how D.G. Cafe  sources their ingredients locally whenever possible, and has bread and baked goods delivered fresh from Panorama Bakery in San Francisco daily. It is clear that they value the quality of the food they serve their customers.

The beverage menu displays coffee, tea, and a selection of espresso drinks. Drink add-ons are $0.50, allowing customers to customize drinks to their liking. They use 100% arabica coffee beans from Addictive Coffee Roasters based in San Rafael. Caffeine-free options like hot chocolate, lemonade, orange juice, and canned soda are available.

A convenient grab and go option is the Muir Steps Away Picnic Package. It offers a choice of salad or sandwich, chips and a soda, packed for a picnic. Customers can enjoy this pre-packed picnic at Imagination or Creek park, both within walking distance of the cafe.

I visited the café around 8:30 a.m. and ordered the Mt. Baldy BLT, a chocolate croissant and a triple shot latte. The BLT is made with bacon, lettuce, tomato, housemade garlic aioli on sliced sourdough bread. The BLT is satisfying and delicious.  The sourdough is perfectly crispy and the housemade garlic aioli really elevates this classic sandwich. At $10.95 it’s a little on the pricey side but is worth it. The chocolate croissant is light, fluffy and buttery. It went perfectly with the latte which had a fairly strong espresso flavor, with perfectly foamed milk.

Indoor dining is not available due to COVID-19 but they allow customers to enter the cafe to order in person. Several safety rules are in place with socially distanced spacing for the waiting line, plexiglass at the cash register, and hand sanitizer at the entrance. Customers can also order online, over the phone or through a third-party delivery service. 

Overall, I am delighted by the menu D.G. Cafe offers and  will return again.  The food is delicious, the service is efficient, and the friendly staff are happy to answer any questions customers may have about the menu.  It is the perfect place to stop for breakfast or lunch and a refreshing addition to downtown San Anselmo.